Machine for assembling shoe parts



Jan. 12,1943. H. .1. WILLMOTT MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING SHOE-PARTS Filed Feb. 21, 1941 4 She ets-Sheet 1 //Vl/E/\/7UA 90 Q- Jan,12, 19.43. H.J.W|LLMOTT 2,3

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING' SHOES-PARTS File d Feb.'21, 194i 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 12, 1943. H. J. WILLMOTT MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING SHOE-PARTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2':

Filed Feb. 21, 1941 I H. J. WlLL-MOT-T MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING SHOE-PARTS- Jan. 12, 1943.

' Filed Feb. 21, 1941 4 S heets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 12, 1943 TES MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING SHOE PARTS Application February 21, 1941, Serial No. 380,031

19 Claims.

This invention relates to the assembling of shoe-parts as, for example, the forcing upon nails projecting from the heel-seat of a shoe, a heel drilled with nail-receiving passages, this being according to the method set forth in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,200,385, Eich, May 14, 1940.

An object of my invention is to effect such assembling operations as that above indicated, by the application to the work of ample pressure by simple and durable means readily controllable by the operator, and without danger of injury to him or to the machine. To this end and in a novel manner, I combine with a cylinder, to which fluid-pressure is applied, and a piston movable within it, a shoe-support carried by the piston and an abutment arranged to retain a shoe-part against assembling pressure upon actuation of the piston. Both the work-support and abutment are preferably adjustable as to their normal vertical and angular positions, to best adapt them to the requirements of the operator. In attaching heels to shoes, I provide relative movement between a cylinder and piston, and mount upon the movable element a support adapted to receive contact of the cone of a last within a shoe being operated upon, a co-operating abutment being engaged by a heel to be attached. Regardless of whether fluid-pressure power means is employed, I utilize a member movable by the operator to control the ap-plica I tion of a relatively small preliminary force by the power means to the pressure mechanism, and a second member, also movable by the operator, to produce a greater assembling force. The first permits adjustment of the work under light retaining pressure and safe manipulation by the operator, while the second completes the operation. To prevent damage to the machine by excessive movement of the shoe-support and consequent contact with the opposed abutment, as when no shoe is in place upon said support, means is provided for cutting off fluid pressure from the actuating cylinder before such contact occurs. pressure mechanism involves the compact mounting together, in a liquid-container formed in the base of the machine, of the power-cylinder and its piston, a valve-casing formed with the cylinder, a pump and a manifold attached to the cylinder, and having passages through which connections between the associated elements are made.

In the accompanying drawings,

15 opening at ll.

The preferred arrangement of fluid- Fig. 1 shows a particular embodiment of this invention in perspective;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken front elevation, especially illustrating the hydraulic mechanism;

5 Fig. 3, a similar side elevation; and

Fig. 4, a full horizontal section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

The frame of the machine includes a enclosed base-portion I0,from the rear of a cover II for which rises an arm l2 curved forwardly to overhang the base. Formed in the base is a container I4, which may be filled to a level indicated at l in Fig. 2, with some such liquid as oil. The container may be drained through a plugged Secured to the bottom of the container is a vertical cylinder it, having preferably integral with it a casing I8 of a valve V. In the cylindera piston is arranged to reciprocate, the rod 22 of the piston being con- 20 tinued by an extension 24 splined to a sleeve 26.

The sleeve is attached to the cover l l by a clamp 21, so that it is adjustable'both longitudinally of and angularly about its vertical axis. Upon the upper extremity of the rod-extension is an 25 enlargement 20, on which is mounted a workof the'cone of a last L, so that a shoe S upon the last may be freely positioned laterally. Clamped at 38 in the arm [2 of the frame is a sleeve 40, adjustable similarly to the sleeve 21 and carrying at its lower extremity an abutment A for en- 40 gagement with a heel H to be attached to the shoe upon the support 30. This abutment, with its adjustable yieldable tread-plate 42 and rear fork 44 having a yieldable covering, may be in every essential particular similar to the corre- 45 sponding device which appears in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,200,386, Eich, May 14, 1940.

Mounted in the container l4 adjacent to the top of the cylinder I6 is a pump 46, which may be of the gear-type for creating hydraulic pressure. Upon the shaft 48 of the pump is a pulley 50, driven through a belt 52 by a motor 54 carried upon the machine-frame above the cover I l. Pump-pressure in the cylinder [6 and exhaust '5 from said cylinder are controlled by a valveplunger 56, movable longitudinally of the casing I8. This plunger has a lower enlargement 58 and an upper enlargement 60, which may open and close the respective ports 62 and 64. The ports 62 may be caused by the valve-enlargement 58 to either join the cylinder I6 below the piston 20 to an exhaust-opening 66 to the container I4, or through the valve-casing I8 to a pressureopening 68 therein. The ports 64, when left open by the enlargement 60, divert pump-pressure from the interior of the casing I8 through a discharge-passage 80 into the container. When the ports 64 are closed, such pressure is exerted through the casing andthe open ports 62 to act upon the piston 20. To cause this shutting off of the discharge to be gradual, with a like increase in the force applied to the piston, the ports 64 are shown in Fig. 2 as having their sides converging downwardly. They are also placed opposite each other .at points removed from the passage 80 to give a balanced effect. Attached to the rear of the cylinder isamanifold 10, within which are iormedpassages .piped at T2 to the outlet ofthe pump 46and at I4 to ,of the valve-casing, and an opening at 18 .(Fig. 3) communicating with the casing 19 of a reliefvalve '0. The valve-casing I8 has a dischargepassage00 to the container. Apressure-gage g may be connected to the hydraulicsystem at .BI (Fi 4;).

The stem of the valve-plunger 56 is linked at 82 to a lever 84, fulcrumed at 86 uponthe top of th container I4. The opposite end of the lever is joined by a rod "88 to a treadle le ver 90, fulcrumed at 92 at the bottom of the frame. The foot-pad of the treadle isheld normally raised against an adjustable stop by a tension-spring 96. This positions the valve-plunger as appears in Fig. 2, the cylinder I6 below the piston 20 being initially open to the container at .62, 66. The pump now takesin liquid from the container through .the opening 16 and the connecting manifold-passage'to the pipe I4, wasting through the pipe I2, manifold-passage to the casing- ,opening 68, port 64 andpassage 80, back to the container. This circuit for the pump is indicated by the heavy dotted arrows in Fig. 2. The piston receives no pressure and is at rest, it having been lowered by gravity after the previous operation, with the liquid exhausting at 62, 66. Depression of the treadle will draw down the valve-plunger to close the exhaust-connection .from the cylinder and the waste-connection at 64, .80, at the same time joining the interior of the valve-casing through the ports 62 to the cylinder. Now, the pump-pressure is diverted from the waste-connection, and is exerted from the opening 68, as shown by the heavy dashed arrows, through the interior of the valve-casing and the port 62 in the cylinder I6. This elevates the piston with the support :30, so the work thereon is lifted and urged against the abutment A. When the machine is not in operation, inverted U-passages 08, 98 in the manifold I0 and communicating with the pumpconnections J2 and Y14, trap bodies of liquid and keep said pump primed.

The force applied to the work may be limited by the relief-valve 'v, as shown by the light dotted lines in Fig. 2,the admission-opening .1 8 from the manifold to this valve being-connected .;to the path of the pressure-liquid by a branchpassage. Within the casing I9 of the valve 0 is guided for vertical movement in its lower portion a tubular plunger I00, closed at the upper end to normally prevent discharge through a casingpassage I02 and open at the lower end for communication with the opening I8. The plunger is held down to maintain openings I04 through the plunger-wall normally closed, by an expansionspring I06 interposed between the top of the plunger and an abutment I08 guided for vertical adjustment in the upper portion of the casing. Threaded ,intothe abutment is a screw IIO, rotatable in the valve-cover and joined to a rod II2, the upper extremity of which turns in a bracket II4. This bracket is secured adjustably to the base-cover II to allow the rod II 2 to be alined vertically. The rod is connected by sprocket-gearing I I8 to a short vertical shaft I20 rotatable in a bushing I 22, passing through a slotin the bracket II4and through the cover II ,andlheld .in place by a nut I23 threaded upon the bushing above the cover. A flange I24 upon thebushing gives support for the bracket I I 4 and clamps it in;,its adjusted position. By rotating the shaft -I20 through a hand-wheel .I26 .i'ast upon its upper end, the rod H2 and screw I I0 may be turned to raise or lower the abutment I08. This will vary the force of the spring I06,

and .thus the point at which the pump-pressure will lift the plunger I00 and blow off through the passage I02.

It is desirable to bring the workupon the support 30 into engagement with the abutment A, and apply to it a preliminary pressure such that the work-parts may be correctly located for assembly and there held untilja greater final assembling pressure is applied. To obtain this result, there passes through an opening in the lever 8.4, between the link 82 and the fulcrum 06,

,a rod I28 guided in a sleeve I30 secured to the underside of the frame-cover -.I I (Fig. 3).

the .rod, at a definite height, at which, when engaged by the lever, it will stop th descent of the valve-plunger 56. The movement of the plunger, thus determined, will partially close the upper exhaust-ports 64 of the 'valve V, and similarly open the ports 62 to apply pump-pressure to the cylinder I 6, as already pointedout. Greater movement of the valve-plunger under the influence of the treadle is prevented by a latch ,I 42, pivoted upon the sleeve I30 and engaging the underside of the collar I38. A link I44 unites the tail of the latch to a lever I46, which is fulcrumed upon the frame-arm I2 and may be of U-shape, extending across the frame at the rear of the support 30, so it may be readily accessible to either of the operators hands (Fig. l). A tensionspring I48 joining an arm from the rear of the lever I46 to the frame maintains normal engagement of the latch with the collar. The op- .erator, being ready for the assembling action of the machine, forces down the lever I46. This withdraws the latch from the stop-collar, and upon further depression of the treadle the sprin I32 yields, so the lever 84 continues to lower the valve-plunger 5.6. The ports 64 and 62 are, respectively, fully closed and opened for the application to the work of pump-pressure, limited only by the setting of the relief-valve n.

It will be evident that, unless means were furnished to prevent it, upon depression of the treadle when there is no work in place upon the support 30, said support would be forced against the abutment A to perhaps cause breakage. This I guard against by securing upon the piston-rod 22, above the top of the cylinder [6, a collar [50, which may be clamped in a chosen vertical position, and is of sufficient diameter to project beneath the forward extremity of the lever 84. The location of the collar is such that, when the travel of the work-support has exceeded to safe distance, it strikes the lever, lifting this against the pressure of the operators foot upon the treadle, to cut off pressure from the cylinder and stop the movement of the work-support.

In the use of the machine, the operator, taking in one hand a lasted shoe S in the heel-seat of which nails N have been inserted with shankportions projecting outwardly, applies to the nails a heel drilled with passages to register with them, and places the end of the last-cone upon the supporting surface 36. The relation between the tread-plate 42 and the rear fork 44 of the abutment A will have been adjusted for proper engagement with the particular form of heel which is to be attached. At this time, with the plunger 56 of the valve V raised, the constantly operating pump 46 is forcing liquid from the frame-container l4 idly through the passages of the manifold 70 and the ports 64 of the valve, back to the container through the discharge-passage 80 of the valve; see the path indicated in Fig. 2 by the heavy dotted arrows. The operator then actuates the treadle 9U, lowering the valveplunger to an extent determined by the latched stop I40, to close partially the valve-port 64 and similarly open the port 62. A low pressure is set up in the cylinder l6 below the piston 20, through the valve-casing from the pressure-opening 68 along the path of the heavy dashed arrows, some pump-exhaust continuing through the passage 80. This lifts the support 39, and, as the heel comes in contact with the abutment A, the operator may shift the last-cone over the surface 36 to bring said heel into correct retaining engagement. The force exerted is not such as to firmly clamp the work, or to injure the operators hands if they are caught between the work and the abutment. With the work thus located, the operator frees the stop I40 from the latch I42 by actuation of the lever I46, and further depresses the treadle.

Now, the valve-plunger is carried to a position at h which full assembling pressure is applied to the work, to force the nails N into the heel-passages and urge the cup of the heel firmly against the heel-seat of the shoe. During this action, the yieldability of the work-support 30, and of the tread-plate 42 and the covering of the rear fork 44 of abutment A, allows these elements to more perfectly adapt themselves to the angle of the crown of the last and contour of the heel being attached. The force exerted upon the work is limited by the blowing off of pressure into the container [4 through the passage I02 of the relief-valve o, as shown by the light dotted arrows. Rotation of the hand-wheel I26, with resulting variation in the force of the spring Hit of the valve '0 enables the operator to control the assembling pressure. When the treadle is freed by the operator and the valve-plunger 56 i raised by the treadle-spring 96, pressure is cut off from the cylinder l6, and the path for waste'from the pump through'the discharge-passage-Bfl reestablished. Simultaneously, exhaust from the 4 cylinder is opened to the container at 62, 66, as shown by the light dashed arrows; In absence of work from the support, actuation of the lever 84 by the piston-rod-collar I50, after a predetermined time or extent of ascent, will arrest the travel of said support before it strikes the abutment A. The piston, with the parts which it carries, falls by gravity, and the completed work may be removed from the support. Through the piston a contracted passage [52 is shown, this permitting the escape from below the piston of any air which may have entered, as during the supply of oil. No harm is done by the release of the. pressure-liquid from below the piston, this merely moving back and forth in negligible quantities through the passage as thepiston reciprocates. A baffle-ring I54, carried by the piston along the passage, prevents jets of the liquid from being thrown through the open top of the cylinder. By clamping the sleeve 26 of the worksupport 30 at 21 and the sleeve 400i the abutment A at 38, both'of these devices may be varied in position about and along their vertical axes-,-which extend in the direction of pressure-movement. Thus the work may be presented at a normal or initial height and angle most convenient for the operator. In the adjustment of the work-support, the piston 20 by which it is carried reciprocates between different extremes of travel in the cylinder-space, but always between the port 62 and opening 63. As the normal vertical position of the work-support is changed, the location of the collar [50 upon the piston-rod 22 is correspondingly altered.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In amachine for assembling shoe-parts, a cylinder, means for applying pressure within the cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder by such pressure, a shoe-support carried by the piston, an abutment arranged to retain a shoe-part against assembling pressure upon actuation of the piston, and means arranged to vary the normal vertical positions of both the work-support and abutment.

2. In a machine for assembling shoe-parts, a cylinder, means for applying pressure to the 03/1- inder, a piston movable in the cylinder, a shoesupport carried by the piston, an abutment arranged to retain a shoe-part against assembling pressure upon actuation of the piston, and means arranged to vary the normal angular positions of the work-support and abutment about axes extending in the direction of pressure-movement.

3. In a machine for attaching heels to the heelseats of lasted shoes, a cylinder and co-operating piston, means for introducing fluid-pressure into the cylinder to produce relative movement between it and the piston, a support carried by the movable element and adapted to receive contact of the cone of a last Within a shoe being operated-upon, an abutment for. engagement with a heel to be attached to the shoe, and means arranged to vary the normal vertical and angular positions of the shoe-support and heel-abutment.

4. In a machine for attaching heels to the heelseats of lasted shoes, a cylinder and co-operating piston, means for introducing fluid-pressure into the cylinder to produce relative movement between it and the piston, a support carried by the movable element and having. a .surface over "which :the cone or a lastr-witliin a "shoe may :be shifted to different operating icpositions, and an abutment provided with heel-:engaging' members variable in position tto adapt them .Ifor contact :withheels difiering in form.

'5. In a machine forattaching. heels t'thehee1- seats of lasted shoes, a cylinderand co-operating piston, means for introducing fluid-pressure into -the cylinder i to produce relative movement "between it and thepiston,:a support carried by the movable element and having a surface over which thecone of a last within ashoemay be shifted to different operating positions,and an abutment provided with heel-engaging members :variable inposition to adapt themJfor contact with heels differing in form, the shoe-tsupportiand heel-engaging members being .yieldable upon application of attachingpressure.

6.In a machine for assembling shoe-parts, pressure mechanism comprising a "shoe-support and an abutment 'co-operating .Withthe support and arrangedito retain. a shoe=part against pressure, the support andlabutment being relatively movable for the application of such ,pressure,

power 'means,-a member movable by the operator to control the application IOfra, relatively small preliminaryforce bythepower meansto the;pressure mechanism, and a member movable by ithe operator to controltheapplication of.a greater assembling force to the pressure mechanism.

:7."In a machine for "assembling shoe-parts, pressure mechanism comprising ashoe-support and anabutment co-operating with the support 'and-arranged'to retaina shoe-part against pressure, the support andabutment being relatively movable for the application of "such pressure, power-means, a member movable by-theroperator to control the application of "force by the power means to the pressure mechanism,;means for-limiting the extent-of movement or the controlling member andtherebythe amountrof force applied to the pressure mechanism, and'a member movable'by'the operatorto render the limiting-means ineffective .and the controlling .member movable toa greater extent :to'increase the force'applied 'tothe-pressure mechanism.

effect the assembly.

9. In a machine forattaching heels to the heelseats of lasted shoes, :a cylinder and co-operating piston, fluid-pressure means connected to the cylinder to produce relative movement between it and the piston, a shoe-support carried by the movable element, an abutment for engagement with a heel to be attached to the shoe, a valve by which the fluid-pressure in the cylinder is controlled, a member movable by the operator to open the valve, 'a stop for limiting the movement of the member and theextent to which the valve may 'be opened, and a member movable by the operator to render the stop ineffective.

10. In a machine for attaching heels to the heel-seats of lasted shoes, a cylinder and co-operating piston, fluid-pressure means connected to the cylinder to produce relative movement between it and the piston, a shoe-support carried by the movable element, an abutment for engagement" with av heel tobe "attached to the-shoe,

a valve by which-the=fluid-pressure in the-cylinder is'controlled, a treadle movable by'the'operator 'to open the valve, a yieldablestop limiting movement ofthe treadle, a latch for retaining the stop in "its movement-limiting position,

and a lever movable by the operator to release the latch.

11. In amachine for assembling shoe-parts,a

cylinder and co-operating piston, said cylinder andpiston being relatively'movablaa shoe-support carried by the movable element, an abutment arranged to retain a shoe-,part' against assembling pressure, means for applying-fluid-ipressure to the cylinder to carry the shoe-support toward the abutment, and means for cutting'off fluid-pressure from the cylinder at a predetermined tame before the shoe-support contacts with the abutment.

12. In a'machine for assembling shoe-parts,aa

cylinder and co-operating piston, said cylinder andpiston'being relatively movable, a shoe-support carried by the movableelement, an abutment arrangedto retain a shoe-part against assembling pressure, means for creating fluid-pressure in the cylinder, avalve forcontrolling such fluid-pressure, and means controlled in the movement of the shoe-support for closing the valve.

13. In a machine for assemblingshoe-parts,a cylinder, a piston movable therein, a shoe-support carried by the :piston, a fixedabutment arranged to retain a shoe-part against assembling pressure upon actuation'of the piston, fluid-pressure means connected to the cylinder, a valve by which the fluid-pressure in the cylinder is controlled, -a

member movable by the operator to open the valve, and a member movable by the piston to close said valve after a definite travel of the -.piston.

14. In a machine for assembling shoe-parts, a

:cylinder, a piston movable therein, a shoe-sup- 'treadleand to the valve, an element movablewith the piston and arranged to engage the lever.

15. In a machine for assembling shoe-parts, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, ashoe-support carried by the piston, a fixed abutment arranged to retain a shoe-part against assembling pressure'upon actuation of the piston, fluid-pressure means connected to the cylinder, a valve by which the fluid-pressure in the cylinder is controlled, a treadle, a lever connected to the treadle and to the valve, and a collar variable in ,position upon the piston and arranged to engage-the ,lever.

16. In a machine for assembling shoe-parts, pressure mechanism comprising a shoe-support and anabutment co-operating with the support and arranged to retain ashoe-partagainst pressure, the support and abutment being relatively movable for the application of such pressure, power means, a member movable by the operator to control the application of a relatively small preliminary force by the power means to the pressure mechanism, a member movable by the operator to control the application of a greater assembling force to the pressure mechanism, and means for limiting the extent of movement of the pressure mechanism to a predetermined extent.

1'7. In a machine for assembling shoe-parts, a

frame having a base-portion furnishing a liquidcontainer, a cylinder provided with a valve-casing mounted in the liquid in the container, a piston movable in the cylinder, a valve-plunger movable in the casing, a pump mounted in the container, a manifold attached to the cylinder and provided with passages connected to the inlet and outlet of the pump, to the opposite extremities of the valve-casing and to the container, a shoe-support carried by the piston, an abutment arranged to retain a shoe-part against assembling pressure, and means arranged to move the valve-plunger.

18. In a machine for assembling shoe-parts, a frame having a base-portion furnishing a liquidcontainer, a cylinder provided with a valve-casing mounted in the liquid in the container, a piston movable in the cylinder, a valve-plunger movable in the casing, a pump mounted in the container, a manifold attached to the cylinder and provided with passages connected to the inlet and outlet of the pump, to the opposite extremities of the valve and to the container, a pressurelimiting valve joined to a manifold-passage between the pump and the valve-casing, a shoesupport carried by the piston, an abutment arranged to retain a shoe-part against assembling pressure, and means arranged to move the valveplunger.

19. In a machine for assembling shoe-parts, a frame having a base-portion furnishing a liquidcontainer, a cylinder provided with a valve-casing mounted in the liquid in the container, a piston movable in the cylinder, a valve-plunger movable in the. casing, a pump mounted in the container, a manifold attached to the cylinder and provided with passages connected to the inlet and outlet of the pump, to the opposite extremities of the valve-casing and to the container, the inletand outlet-passages being of inverted U-form, a shoe-support carried by the piston, an abutment arranged to retaina shoe-part against assembling pressure, and means arranged to move the valve-plunger.

HERBERT J. WILLMOT'I'. 

